Blackjack tables in Las Vegas have gotten tighter over the years. The first bad rule change was when casinos started hitting soft 17. The next step was to cut the payout on a blackjack from 3-2 to 6-5, adding 1.39% to the house edge.
There are eight casinos in the tourist corridor that do not have any 6-5 blackjack tables. A few are even on or near the Strip.
(Aria and Bellagio added 6-5 games after this article was published. All Las Vegas Strip casinos now spread some form of 6-5 blackjack.)
Aria is the flagship of MGM Resorts. While blackjack at many MGM properties has gone downhill in the past year, that isn’t the case at Aria. Players will find 3-2 games with a $15 minimum during off peak hours and $25 on weekends. These games offer double down on any two cards and after splitting, as well as re-split aces and surrender. Higher limit players will find stand on 17 games with shoes and double deck games.
Bellagio offers these same games. The difference is that there are $10 tables during most time periods. These tables use continuous shuffle machines. Players willing to bet $25 will always get a hand shuffled game.
Hooters offers no 6-5 games. It even spreads single deck that pays 3-2. Players can only double down on 10 and 11 at these tables. There are also shoe tables that allow double down before and after splitting. Most tables at Hooters are in the party pit.
The other major casinos frequented by tourists that do not spread any 6-5 games are downtown. Plaza offers shoe blackjack games starting at $5 where players can double down before and after splitting. The double deck game is $25 and has the same rules. Its sister casino Las Vegas Club offers the same games.
Golden Gate and The D are sister properties. Both become party pits at night. The rules are the same at all hours of the day. Players can enjoy shoe games with double down on any two cards and after splitting.
El Cortez spreads the best blackjack in Las Vegas. It has a single deck where players can double down on any two cards. It has just a $5 minimum bet. The double deck tables have a $3 minimum and allow double down before and after the split.
There are numerous locals casinos that still pay 3-2 on all blackjacks. There are too many to mention. Las Vegas residents will not tolerate 6-5 games because there are too many options throughout the city.
It is important to support casinos that refuse to resist spreading bad blackjack games. The reason 6-5 blackjack has spread is because players continue to give action at those tables. Support the casinos that give players a fair chance of winning. If all players did that, 6-5 blackjack would cease to exist.
